Examining the molecular basis of reproductive isolating barriers

We dig deeper into reproductive isolating barriers here, examining how they are genetically encoded. Thus far we have focused on plumage colour and migratory behaviour, using natural variation in young species complexes and hybrids zones to map these traits. Much of our work focuses on sequence variants but we are beginning to expand into the worlds of gene expression and epigenetics, with the hopes of using these complimentary data to nail down loci associated with our traits of interest.

Click here to learn about our work using a hybrid zone between Swainson’s thrushes to map plumage colour and migration and here for work on migration’s evolutionary history and genetic basis using the iconic European blackcap.